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Playbook #4
Snapped
With the stakes this high, it’s no longer just a game for the quarterback in this romance by the author of Blitzed.
Elliot Reed is living her best life—or pretending to. She owes it to her dad’s memory to be happy and make the most of her new job as Strategic Communications Manager for the Denver Mustangs. Things are going well until star quarterback Quinton Howard Jr. decides to use the field as his stage and becomes the first player to take a knee during the national anthem.
As the son of a former professional athlete, Quinton knows the good, the bad, and the ugly about football. He's worked his entire life to gain recognition in the sport, and now that he has it, he’s not about to waste his chance to change the league for better. Not even the brilliant but infuriating Elliot, who the Mustangs assign to manage him, will get Quinton back in line.
A rocky initial meeting only leads to more tension between Quinton and Elliot. But as her new job forces them to spend time together, she realizes they may have more in common than she could've ever imagined. With her job and his integrity on the line, this is one coin toss that nobody can win.
Elliot Reed is living her best life—or pretending to. She owes it to her dad’s memory to be happy and make the most of her new job as Strategic Communications Manager for the Denver Mustangs. Things are going well until star quarterback Quinton Howard Jr. decides to use the field as his stage and becomes the first player to take a knee during the national anthem.
As the son of a former professional athlete, Quinton knows the good, the bad, and the ugly about football. He's worked his entire life to gain recognition in the sport, and now that he has it, he’s not about to waste his chance to change the league for better. Not even the brilliant but infuriating Elliot, who the Mustangs assign to manage him, will get Quinton back in line.
A rocky initial meeting only leads to more tension between Quinton and Elliot. But as her new job forces them to spend time together, she realizes they may have more in common than she could've ever imagined. With her job and his integrity on the line, this is one coin toss that nobody can win.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 20, 2020
194 people are currently reading
5377 people want to read
About the author
Alexa Martin
9 books2,234 followersAlexa Martin is a writer and stay at home mom. She lives in Colorado with her husband, a former NFL player who now coaches at the high school where they met, their four children, and a German Shepherd. When she's not telling her kids to put their shoes on...again, you can find her catching up with her latest book boyfriend or on Pinterest pinning meals she'll probably never make. Her first book, Intercepted, was inspired by the eight years she spent as an NFL wife.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 609 reviews
August 6, 2021
Hmmm... Okay, I’m having complex feelings about another book. I personally enjoy the previous Playbook series and the smart feel-good rom-com premise the author presented us.
But this book is questioning deep political , socioeconomic issues and racism , injustice. This is not entertaining, sweet, soft romcom with steamy love scenes you’re looking for. This is serious, emotional women’s fiction. If you’re expecting to read an easy sports romance, this is not great fit for you.
I have no problems with the characters. Both of them were likable from the beginning and as individuals, their point of views and opinions about racism are understandable.
Quinton, star quarterback is taking a knee as black man to protest inequality and racism in the sports industry. Elliot, already suffers from losses of her family, PR exec, hired to stop this PR mess. From the beginning she thinks Quinton is spoiled rich brat and she couldn’t understand with his motives about protesting the entire system. But as long as she starts learning more about him and back story, she slowly changes her mind, empathizing with him.
In my opinion, the way of approaching to the political issues, dialogues and characters’ actions at the end ( both of them were ready to give up their ideals or what they worked for) and team members’ sudden awakening and changing their opinions instantly parts were not realistic.
The book gives important messages and deals with sensitive issues which overshadowed romance parts and the outcome of the story was a little haphazard and unsatisfying. (The novel started like thought provoking, serious fiction/ emotional women’s fiction and finished as cheesy romcom with a lot of cliches!)
I like the characters and I wholeheartedly support the author’s decision to write about racism, injustice and inequality in the competitive sports industry but the conclusion could be more inspirational and logical.
So this is I didn’t love it so much but I also didn’t hate it kind of I prefer to stay in the middle kind of reading for me. I’m giving my three sporty, equal, powerful stars!
I keen on reading more books from the series but this one didn’t work with me.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this emotional ARC with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
But this book is questioning deep political , socioeconomic issues and racism , injustice. This is not entertaining, sweet, soft romcom with steamy love scenes you’re looking for. This is serious, emotional women’s fiction. If you’re expecting to read an easy sports romance, this is not great fit for you.
I have no problems with the characters. Both of them were likable from the beginning and as individuals, their point of views and opinions about racism are understandable.
Quinton, star quarterback is taking a knee as black man to protest inequality and racism in the sports industry. Elliot, already suffers from losses of her family, PR exec, hired to stop this PR mess. From the beginning she thinks Quinton is spoiled rich brat and she couldn’t understand with his motives about protesting the entire system. But as long as she starts learning more about him and back story, she slowly changes her mind, empathizing with him.
In my opinion, the way of approaching to the political issues, dialogues and characters’ actions at the end ( both of them were ready to give up their ideals or what they worked for) and team members’ sudden awakening and changing their opinions instantly parts were not realistic.
The book gives important messages and deals with sensitive issues which overshadowed romance parts and the outcome of the story was a little haphazard and unsatisfying. (The novel started like thought provoking, serious fiction/ emotional women’s fiction and finished as cheesy romcom with a lot of cliches!)
I like the characters and I wholeheartedly support the author’s decision to write about racism, injustice and inequality in the competitive sports industry but the conclusion could be more inspirational and logical.
So this is I didn’t love it so much but I also didn’t hate it kind of I prefer to stay in the middle kind of reading for me. I’m giving my three sporty, equal, powerful stars!
I keen on reading more books from the series but this one didn’t work with me.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this emotional ARC with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
October 22, 2020
2.5 stars
Trigger warnings for grief and death of a parent
I love this series, but I wasn't the biggest fan of the previous book. Seeing as I enjoyed book one and loved book two, I had high hopes that I would love the newest installment to this series.
Edit added 10/22 I was not aware there was an author's note in the book (it's at the beginning, which I did not see) and I have just read Alexa Martin's note. I previously said that Elliot's character was frustrating to me because she so vehemently denied racism she saw and claimed she never realized racism existed, which as a grown woman in America, that was hard for me to believe. Elliot went so far as to get offended when someone called her Black; she was quick to respond that she was also white. Elliot was raised by a white father and was raised to be color blind. I really did appreciate Elliot's discussion and difficulty grappling her identity as a biracial woman, especially since she was raised by only a white parent and not also a Black parent. Alexa Martin explained that she had this same experience growing up as a biracial woman being raised by a white parent. What I felt frustrated with was how Elliot "realized" there was racism. It all seemed like she just suddenly had an epiphany and her friends had to point out that she's been experiencing racism all of her life and through that conversation she realizes racism exists after so adamantly claiming it didn't for the entirety of the book. As a Black woman working in a professional industry, it was hard for me to understand that Elliot had gone 31 years without "realizing" that racism exists. While she was raised color blind, she worked in an industry and claimed to be a fan of the industry where there are constantly discussions about racism going on. Being surrounded by constant discussions of racism, which does happen in the NFL and being a working professional, I didn't feel like her friends being the ones to tell her at the end of the book after having continuous conversations with Quinton about what he was protesting was the realistic way she would realize she had been experiencing racism all of her life. Even her mentioning moments where she could acknowledge racism without calling it racism would have felt like there was more progression in her journey towards not being colorblind than the sudden realization that racism exists at the end of the book.
When it came to the romance, it was really lacking in this book. I still feel like I don't even know Quinton as a character and I really wish we had alternating chapters in this book so I could really get to know his character more. The romance doesn't even begin developing until well over 50% into the book and this read much more like a women's fiction novel than a romance. When it came to their relationship, it also felt like Elliot as very self-centered and, again, didn't really truly understand what Quinton was fighting for. When she had to set up an event for someone who was extremely racist and against everything Quinton stands for, Elliot never seems disgusted with the man but instead is only worried about what Quinton would think. Again, this felt odd.
I know that a lot of people didn't like the ending of this book and I had heard the author changed things for this final copy that were included in the e-arc (I only read the final copy). I'm interested to see what she changed because this ending was all wrapped up in a neat bow and nothing about it felt realistic whatsoever, which is something earlier reviews I read also pointed out. It also felt like the only problem Elliot thought Quinton was fighting for was rights for retired NFL players and his fight against racism in their program was just brushed to the side for that final push at the end. This book attempted to look at racism and the injustices in the NFL, but the way those issues were handled just didn't sit well with me and did not feel realistic. The romance was also lacking and I just didn't feel the connection between the characters.
Trigger warnings for grief and death of a parent
I love this series, but I wasn't the biggest fan of the previous book. Seeing as I enjoyed book one and loved book two, I had high hopes that I would love the newest installment to this series.
Edit added 10/22 I was not aware there was an author's note in the book (it's at the beginning, which I did not see) and I have just read Alexa Martin's note. I previously said that Elliot's character was frustrating to me because she so vehemently denied racism she saw and claimed she never realized racism existed, which as a grown woman in America, that was hard for me to believe. Elliot went so far as to get offended when someone called her Black; she was quick to respond that she was also white. Elliot was raised by a white father and was raised to be color blind. I really did appreciate Elliot's discussion and difficulty grappling her identity as a biracial woman, especially since she was raised by only a white parent and not also a Black parent. Alexa Martin explained that she had this same experience growing up as a biracial woman being raised by a white parent. What I felt frustrated with was how Elliot "realized" there was racism. It all seemed like she just suddenly had an epiphany and her friends had to point out that she's been experiencing racism all of her life and through that conversation she realizes racism exists after so adamantly claiming it didn't for the entirety of the book. As a Black woman working in a professional industry, it was hard for me to understand that Elliot had gone 31 years without "realizing" that racism exists. While she was raised color blind, she worked in an industry and claimed to be a fan of the industry where there are constantly discussions about racism going on. Being surrounded by constant discussions of racism, which does happen in the NFL and being a working professional, I didn't feel like her friends being the ones to tell her at the end of the book after having continuous conversations with Quinton about what he was protesting was the realistic way she would realize she had been experiencing racism all of her life. Even her mentioning moments where she could acknowledge racism without calling it racism would have felt like there was more progression in her journey towards not being colorblind than the sudden realization that racism exists at the end of the book.
When it came to the romance, it was really lacking in this book. I still feel like I don't even know Quinton as a character and I really wish we had alternating chapters in this book so I could really get to know his character more. The romance doesn't even begin developing until well over 50% into the book and this read much more like a women's fiction novel than a romance. When it came to their relationship, it also felt like Elliot as very self-centered and, again, didn't really truly understand what Quinton was fighting for. When she had to set up an event for someone who was extremely racist and against everything Quinton stands for, Elliot never seems disgusted with the man but instead is only worried about what Quinton would think. Again, this felt odd.
I know that a lot of people didn't like the ending of this book and I had heard the author changed things for this final copy that were included in the e-arc (I only read the final copy). I'm interested to see what she changed because this ending was all wrapped up in a neat bow and nothing about it felt realistic whatsoever, which is something earlier reviews I read also pointed out. It also felt like the only problem Elliot thought Quinton was fighting for was rights for retired NFL players and his fight against racism in their program was just brushed to the side for that final push at the end. This book attempted to look at racism and the injustices in the NFL, but the way those issues were handled just didn't sit well with me and did not feel realistic. The romance was also lacking and I just didn't feel the connection between the characters.
June 13, 2021
3.5 stars
Snapped is the fourth book in Alexa Martin's 'Playbook' series, and while I've enjoyed the series as a whole- the comradery, the friendships, the characters, the execution of the story and the romance was just okay for me. Each one felt like it was missing something, but I can't put my finger on what. Elliot was a frustrating heroine at times, but I could understand why her mind worked the way it did, and I absolutely loved Quinton. Honestly, my favorite parts were the parts with Vonnie. I want to know so badly how her life will turn out and I hope we get more from this series so we can see!
Snapped is the fourth book in Alexa Martin's 'Playbook' series, and while I've enjoyed the series as a whole- the comradery, the friendships, the characters, the execution of the story and the romance was just okay for me. Each one felt like it was missing something, but I can't put my finger on what. Elliot was a frustrating heroine at times, but I could understand why her mind worked the way it did, and I absolutely loved Quinton. Honestly, my favorite parts were the parts with Vonnie. I want to know so badly how her life will turn out and I hope we get more from this series so we can see!
Audio book source: Libby (library borrow)
Story Rating: 3.5 stars
Narrators: Soneela Nankani and Cary Hite
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance (sports)
Length: 11h 21m
January 7, 2021
Alexa Martin has written a timely romcom, the perfect blend of romance and social justice. While The discussion of racism in football made this book a little heavier I think it would be remiss if the author did not address the treatment of black players in a series about the NFL. Alexa handled the subject matter perfectly, in a thought-provoking nonjudgmental way. Elliot (can I just say I love this name for a girl) has her dream job working with the Denver Mustangs. One of her first assignments is to “deal“ with Quinton Howard star quarterback who has recently started taking a knee during the national anthem. Elliot is biracial but was raised by her white father in a white world and has been taught to be colorblind. Elliotts interactions with Quinton are eye-opening and ignite a spark in her that was not previously there. there is also an attraction between Elliott and Quinton that is undeniable. BUT ken they find a compromise given all the differences between them?
This was a great story that gave me a lot to think about. My youngest brother is biracial, raised by white parents, in a white world, and I had a lot of aha moments in this book. now I will never truly understand what it’s like to be biracial but I appreciated the insight in this story. I really liked both Elliot and Quinton as characters and liked them even more together. I definitely felt the pole and liked how they listen and learn from one another. The issue of racism and how it impacts the NFL was handled well. I read a few reviews that said they didn’t want any social justice issues in their romcoms and all I could think was, your privilege is showing. Additionally I read several reviews that did not like the ending... here’s the thing, I think the ending was wrapped up nice and neat with a tidy bow, but had it been messy I think people would have complained about that as well. Alexa Martin Took on a huge challenge with trying to balance a feel good romcom and tossing in a generous dose of social justice. I think she did an excellent job of it. 🏈
*** Big thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
This was a great story that gave me a lot to think about. My youngest brother is biracial, raised by white parents, in a white world, and I had a lot of aha moments in this book. now I will never truly understand what it’s like to be biracial but I appreciated the insight in this story. I really liked both Elliot and Quinton as characters and liked them even more together. I definitely felt the pole and liked how they listen and learn from one another. The issue of racism and how it impacts the NFL was handled well. I read a few reviews that said they didn’t want any social justice issues in their romcoms and all I could think was, your privilege is showing. Additionally I read several reviews that did not like the ending... here’s the thing, I think the ending was wrapped up nice and neat with a tidy bow, but had it been messy I think people would have complained about that as well. Alexa Martin Took on a huge challenge with trying to balance a feel good romcom and tossing in a generous dose of social justice. I think she did an excellent job of it. 🏈
*** Big thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
July 23, 2020
Let me just say first of all that I am reviewing this book based purely on the book - the characters, the plot, the romance, and the arc all of it takes. This is not a memoir of the author and there is even a pointed note at the beginning directing the reader specifically to *not* read the book as her story.
This book did not work for me on basically any level or any lens I looked at it through, no matter how hard I tried. Elliot is a biracial PR exec hired for a football team where Quinton, a Black man, just began to protest racism in America and the treatment of men with CTE in the league. Her boss assigns her the task with distracting Quinton. My initial issue was that Elliot’s actions, words, and internal monologue are never in alignment. Throughout the book she’s contradicting herself and the result is incredibly disjointed. She wants to distract him because that’s her job, and I get that, but her internal monologue never shows that, it’s completely taken up with how unfair her life is because Quinton is a spoiled rich football player and she’s lost her family.
“I can’t help but be irritated that normal people can’t get approved before they have all of the details. Of course, for the rich and mighty Quinton Howard Junior, he can make things happen with no real intent to follow through.”
This is one example of many of how she thinks of Quinton throughout the book - a spoiled rich player. Yes, once she learns about his family her feelings change about him, but there is no real thought, about WHY HE IS PROTESTING. She thinks to herself briefly yes I agree with him, but never considers how she is the fucking PUBLIC RELATIONS executive and how she can help him do this powerful thing? At one point she says “At this point it’s not really about trust, it’s about building my resume and not burning bridges. But Quinton wouldn’t know this because I never told him that my job is out here dangling by a thread….I’m not sure he would stop taking a knee for me.” She thinks about him as a threat to her job and her way of life throughout the book even as she vaguely says she supports him but outwardly does nothing to *actually* support it.
(I'm putting the rest of this behind a spoiler tag)
This book did not work for me on basically any level or any lens I looked at it through, no matter how hard I tried. Elliot is a biracial PR exec hired for a football team where Quinton, a Black man, just began to protest racism in America and the treatment of men with CTE in the league. Her boss assigns her the task with distracting Quinton. My initial issue was that Elliot’s actions, words, and internal monologue are never in alignment. Throughout the book she’s contradicting herself and the result is incredibly disjointed. She wants to distract him because that’s her job, and I get that, but her internal monologue never shows that, it’s completely taken up with how unfair her life is because Quinton is a spoiled rich football player and she’s lost her family.
“I can’t help but be irritated that normal people can’t get approved before they have all of the details. Of course, for the rich and mighty Quinton Howard Junior, he can make things happen with no real intent to follow through.”
This is one example of many of how she thinks of Quinton throughout the book - a spoiled rich player. Yes, once she learns about his family her feelings change about him, but there is no real thought, about WHY HE IS PROTESTING. She thinks to herself briefly yes I agree with him, but never considers how she is the fucking PUBLIC RELATIONS executive and how she can help him do this powerful thing? At one point she says “At this point it’s not really about trust, it’s about building my resume and not burning bridges. But Quinton wouldn’t know this because I never told him that my job is out here dangling by a thread….I’m not sure he would stop taking a knee for me.” She thinks about him as a threat to her job and her way of life throughout the book even as she vaguely says she supports him but outwardly does nothing to *actually* support it.
(I'm putting the rest of this behind a spoiler tag)
October 20, 2020
4.5/ 5 stars
Snapped is the fourth and final book in the Playbook series. It is a Sports Contemporary Romance that deals with serious issues.
These are interconnected standalone books, each one featuring a different couple. And each book has its own female narrator. But the main characters from the previous books are in the next books.
This is a football series. I really enjoy sports romance as a genre. But I especially enjoy it when it is clear that the author knows about the sport that they are writing about. And in this case the author knows both about the sport and about what it is like to be the girlfriend/wife of an NFL player.
The book starts with an incredibly poignant author's note that really set the tone for the entire book. I don't always love when there is an author's note at the beginning of a book. But in this case I thought that it really explained her writing process.
I have really enjoyed this series so much. But I think that Snapped is a bit different from the previous books in the series. The author chose to include a very important topic that is fairly divisive.
I personally love it when books deal with serious issues. And I think that the author did a really good job explaining the issue in this case. It is perhaps a bit unusual for a series where the previous books had more of a Romantic Comedy/ Chick Lit vibe. But I like it when my romances are emotional and meaningful. And this was definitely the case here.
The narrator of this book is Elliot Reed (female 1st person POV, 31 years old). She is the Strategic Communications Manager for the Denver Mustangs football team. She is a biracial Black woman.
The main focus of this book is that the star quarterback of the Mustangs Quinton Howard Jr. decides to take a knee during the national anthem.
I love this series so much. My favorite part was being able to see the characters from the previous books. Brynn and Vonnie are in this book a lot (Brynn is the narrator of Blitzed and Vonnie was in that book a lot).
My only minor issue with the book is that I wish that the romance had started earlier. But I do understand why it didn't.
I really liked seeing Elliot's PR job. And I really enjoyed how Elliot's girlfriends' had her back, including Brynn and Vonnie. I liked getting to see some football. And I absolutely loved Mrs. Rafter. What a great character!
Overall, I have really enjoyed the Playbook series so much. And I am so sad that it is over. I really enjoyed Snapped. It was a strong conclusion to a really great series.
Thanks to netgalley and Berkley for allowing me to read this book.
Snapped is the fourth and final book in the Playbook series. It is a Sports Contemporary Romance that deals with serious issues.
These are interconnected standalone books, each one featuring a different couple. And each book has its own female narrator. But the main characters from the previous books are in the next books.
This is a football series. I really enjoy sports romance as a genre. But I especially enjoy it when it is clear that the author knows about the sport that they are writing about. And in this case the author knows both about the sport and about what it is like to be the girlfriend/wife of an NFL player.
The book starts with an incredibly poignant author's note that really set the tone for the entire book. I don't always love when there is an author's note at the beginning of a book. But in this case I thought that it really explained her writing process.
I have really enjoyed this series so much. But I think that Snapped is a bit different from the previous books in the series. The author chose to include a very important topic that is fairly divisive.
I personally love it when books deal with serious issues. And I think that the author did a really good job explaining the issue in this case. It is perhaps a bit unusual for a series where the previous books had more of a Romantic Comedy/ Chick Lit vibe. But I like it when my romances are emotional and meaningful. And this was definitely the case here.
The narrator of this book is Elliot Reed (female 1st person POV, 31 years old). She is the Strategic Communications Manager for the Denver Mustangs football team. She is a biracial Black woman.
The main focus of this book is that the star quarterback of the Mustangs Quinton Howard Jr. decides to take a knee during the national anthem.
I love this series so much. My favorite part was being able to see the characters from the previous books. Brynn and Vonnie are in this book a lot (Brynn is the narrator of Blitzed and Vonnie was in that book a lot).
My only minor issue with the book is that I wish that the romance had started earlier. But I do understand why it didn't.
I really liked seeing Elliot's PR job. And I really enjoyed how Elliot's girlfriends' had her back, including Brynn and Vonnie. I liked getting to see some football. And I absolutely loved Mrs. Rafter. What a great character!
Overall, I have really enjoyed the Playbook series so much. And I am so sad that it is over. I really enjoyed Snapped. It was a strong conclusion to a really great series.
Thanks to netgalley and Berkley for allowing me to read this book.
September 25, 2020
After the disappointing third book in the series, I actually wasn’t sure if I wanted to read this one. But I saw that it was about an NFL quarterback taking the knee and because I do love my contemporaries with social justice themes, I requested for this ARC. But I honestly shouldn’t have.
The author mentions in her note that even though she is a biracial woman like the main character in the story, this is not based on her life as well as not inspired by Colin Kapaernik’s decision to take a knee and his subsequent activism. So I’m gonna try not to relate any of my gripes with the book to the events that have happened to Colin, and hopefully no one will assume that my criticism of the main character in anyway reflects on what I think of the author.
Firstly, this book may belong to this series and it does have an HEA towards the end (even though it felt more like an HFN for me), but this is more of women’s fiction than genre romance. Nothing happens in the feelings department for about two-thirds of the book, and even when it does, it all comes out of nowhere. So, just go into this book prepared for the romance to be a subplot only and not the major focus.
And for the main part, the kneeling and the hero’s fight for equality and pension parity for retired players who are suffering from CTE but ignored by the league, is a worthy topic to be explored with depth but I don’t think the book does it justice. One, because the whole book is from Elliot’s POV and we never see what Quinton is thinking or feeling when he is taking the knee or speaking out, as well as about all the racist abuse he is subjected to online and in the media.
Two, Elliot is a biracial woman raised by her loving single white father without any contact with the Black side of her family, and she has clearly internalized a lot of harmful things. She is proud to call herself colorblind, wishes that everyone would be the same and treat her with respect because of her qualifications and competence and not bring race into the mix. It’s obvious that despite being 31 years old, she is willfully ignorant about the historical as well as contemporary racial issues in the country. She touts herself as a lifelong football fan but doesn’t understand the racist implications behind the sport having majority black players on the whole but not black quarterbacks or head coaches. I rolled my eyes at this initially but then realized it’s offensive because here she is, working for a football team in PR and doesn’t understand this... I have watched exactly one full season of the sport till date (last year) and even I know that. Whenever anyone is being subtly racist towards her, she just lets it go or makes up excuses in her head, and actually becomes angry when someone else points the truth out to her. And she justifies this behavior by saying that she doesn’t like throwing the word racist around, when all she is doing is living in denial.
I will get spoilery from here, so you may wanna stop if you haven’t read the book. You probably already realize what my thoughts about it in general are, but just to clear up, I’m not sure I can recommend this one unfortunately. Coming to the spoilers, we have a DJT stand-in who is also running for the president and as expected, he makes Quinton a major target in his campaign rallies, drumming up his base with extremely vile and racist rhetoric. But when Elliot is roped into signing an NDA by her racist boss and then asked to organize a campaign fundraiser for this candidate, she feels uncomfortable and worries for how Quinton will react if he gets to know, but I never felt she was personally disgusted at having to organize the event. She seemed quite okay with dismissing it as part of having a PR job (though this fundraiser was outside of her actual job with the team).
And then came the end, where Quinton decides to stop taking the knee because she might lose her job working for a racist owner, this after making all the excellent passionate speeches about his worthy cause for months and getting booed and questioned all the time. And magically Elliot fixes everything by sending an email to all his teammates and they realize what he is fighting for and decide to take a knee to support him.... am I to assume that Quinton being the quarterback never explained why he was taking a knee to his teammates all through the season, and Elliot saved the day and opened their eyes with one email. And in just two weeks, whole of the media and fans across the country also start supporting him... it’s all “magically” fixed and this is the exact word Elliot uses which made me quite angry. We all wish racism would magically get fixed in this country but one Olivia Pope loving PR executive is unfortunately not capable of doing that.
I actually didn’t expect to write such a long rant and I apologize because I try my best always not to go full negative but I couldn’t help myself here. I tried my best only to criticize the actions and thoughts of the characters in the book, but I’m also aware that I have absolutely zero knowledge about the living experience of a biracial woman in this country, so please excuse me if any of my interpretations are wrong. But I am being honest when I say that I personally can’t recommend this book in good faith.
The author mentions in her note that even though she is a biracial woman like the main character in the story, this is not based on her life as well as not inspired by Colin Kapaernik’s decision to take a knee and his subsequent activism. So I’m gonna try not to relate any of my gripes with the book to the events that have happened to Colin, and hopefully no one will assume that my criticism of the main character in anyway reflects on what I think of the author.
Firstly, this book may belong to this series and it does have an HEA towards the end (even though it felt more like an HFN for me), but this is more of women’s fiction than genre romance. Nothing happens in the feelings department for about two-thirds of the book, and even when it does, it all comes out of nowhere. So, just go into this book prepared for the romance to be a subplot only and not the major focus.
And for the main part, the kneeling and the hero’s fight for equality and pension parity for retired players who are suffering from CTE but ignored by the league, is a worthy topic to be explored with depth but I don’t think the book does it justice. One, because the whole book is from Elliot’s POV and we never see what Quinton is thinking or feeling when he is taking the knee or speaking out, as well as about all the racist abuse he is subjected to online and in the media.
Two, Elliot is a biracial woman raised by her loving single white father without any contact with the Black side of her family, and she has clearly internalized a lot of harmful things. She is proud to call herself colorblind, wishes that everyone would be the same and treat her with respect because of her qualifications and competence and not bring race into the mix. It’s obvious that despite being 31 years old, she is willfully ignorant about the historical as well as contemporary racial issues in the country. She touts herself as a lifelong football fan but doesn’t understand the racist implications behind the sport having majority black players on the whole but not black quarterbacks or head coaches. I rolled my eyes at this initially but then realized it’s offensive because here she is, working for a football team in PR and doesn’t understand this... I have watched exactly one full season of the sport till date (last year) and even I know that. Whenever anyone is being subtly racist towards her, she just lets it go or makes up excuses in her head, and actually becomes angry when someone else points the truth out to her. And she justifies this behavior by saying that she doesn’t like throwing the word racist around, when all she is doing is living in denial.
I will get spoilery from here, so you may wanna stop if you haven’t read the book. You probably already realize what my thoughts about it in general are, but just to clear up, I’m not sure I can recommend this one unfortunately. Coming to the spoilers, we have a DJT stand-in who is also running for the president and as expected, he makes Quinton a major target in his campaign rallies, drumming up his base with extremely vile and racist rhetoric. But when Elliot is roped into signing an NDA by her racist boss and then asked to organize a campaign fundraiser for this candidate, she feels uncomfortable and worries for how Quinton will react if he gets to know, but I never felt she was personally disgusted at having to organize the event. She seemed quite okay with dismissing it as part of having a PR job (though this fundraiser was outside of her actual job with the team).
And then came the end, where Quinton decides to stop taking the knee because she might lose her job working for a racist owner, this after making all the excellent passionate speeches about his worthy cause for months and getting booed and questioned all the time. And magically Elliot fixes everything by sending an email to all his teammates and they realize what he is fighting for and decide to take a knee to support him.... am I to assume that Quinton being the quarterback never explained why he was taking a knee to his teammates all through the season, and Elliot saved the day and opened their eyes with one email. And in just two weeks, whole of the media and fans across the country also start supporting him... it’s all “magically” fixed and this is the exact word Elliot uses which made me quite angry. We all wish racism would magically get fixed in this country but one Olivia Pope loving PR executive is unfortunately not capable of doing that.
I actually didn’t expect to write such a long rant and I apologize because I try my best always not to go full negative but I couldn’t help myself here. I tried my best only to criticize the actions and thoughts of the characters in the book, but I’m also aware that I have absolutely zero knowledge about the living experience of a biracial woman in this country, so please excuse me if any of my interpretations are wrong. But I am being honest when I say that I personally can’t recommend this book in good faith.
June 21, 2020
Snapped is the latest and last in this series and I cannot express to you how much I love it!
Sports in my romance is my thing. Maybe it’s a throwback to my college days drooling over the baseball players🤷🏻♀️. It always seems my fav romances always involve sports and Alexa Martin definitely writes my favorite series.
Snapped is the last in the series and it’s the only one that made me cry. This book wasn’t as steamy as the previous three books but it was definitely way more emotional. This may be my favorite of the 4 books. I’m definitely going to miss this group of friends. They were funny and loyal. They were women I wanted to be friends with.
Snapped comes out, in what I hope is, right in the middle of football season. Pick this one up in October and see what the hype is all about.
Sports in my romance is my thing. Maybe it’s a throwback to my college days drooling over the baseball players🤷🏻♀️. It always seems my fav romances always involve sports and Alexa Martin definitely writes my favorite series.
Snapped is the last in the series and it’s the only one that made me cry. This book wasn’t as steamy as the previous three books but it was definitely way more emotional. This may be my favorite of the 4 books. I’m definitely going to miss this group of friends. They were funny and loyal. They were women I wanted to be friends with.
Snapped comes out, in what I hope is, right in the middle of football season. Pick this one up in October and see what the hype is all about.
October 19, 2020
First I’d like to thank the publisher, Berkley, for allowing me to read this advanced copy of Snapped before it’s release in exchange for an honest review. This was the first time I’d reached out to a publisher for an ARC successfully and it was such a great experience!
Anyone who’s been here for awhile knows that I am a very big fan of Alexa Martin’s Playbook series. I love the Mustangs and the women who love them. When I found out we were getting another book in this series, I was over the moon. Fumbled is still my absolute favorite, but I couldn’t wait to see what Alexa had in store next and thankfully, she didn’t disappoint.
Snapped throws us right into the deep end of the pool from page one. Quinton Howard Jr. is the new quarterback from the Mustangs with an amazing contract and amazing skills. Everyone expects him to get the Mustangs to the playoffs, but no one expects him to take a knee and cover his league logo the first time he takes the field. Showing support for the Black Lives Matter movement and calling attention to the racist and bigoted industry that is football? Who would do a thing like that? That’s what Elliot Reed wants to know. While she completely understands the injustices that are going on in the world, the last thing she wants to see is Quinton protesting it on the field. While she supports the cause, as the newest PR employee on the Mustangs roster, she was hoping not to have to face anything too large right off the bat. Sure she understands why Quinton is protesting, but he’s jeopardizing her job in the process. Why couldn’t he just tell the league he wanted to protest? She could have helped him do it in a way that didn’t piss off the Mustangs’ owner and could’ve helped spread his message without it possibly ruining her career. When the owner of the Mustangs give Elliott the task of putting an end to Quinton’s protest, Elliot is forced to face some things she’d rather keep hidden…and maybe find both love and herself in the process.
I’ll admit I was worried. With such a big social justice message, I wasn’t entirely sure how things would play out or how they would be handled in the book. I must say, Alexa did a great job. It wasn’t hard to fall in love with Quinton. He was passionate about shedding light not only on racial injustice, but the injustices within professional football as well, no matter the cost. Whenever he talked about why this was important to him or why he needed to do this, I fell in love a little more because he was speaking nothing but facts. Quinton gives us tons of insight throughout the entire book and I must say he almost rivaled the love I have for TK from Fumbled.
While falling in love with Quinton wasn’t hard, loving Elliot was a little bit more difficult. She’s a strong woman, which I loved, but being inside her head tended to be frustrating for awhile. Here’s why: Elliot is a mixed race woman. Born to a Black mom who died early on and raised by her White father, Elliot was raised to be “color-blind”, which is a direct quote. As a Black woman, I know how ridiculous this is, but it’s not surprising. So many White people believe that being color-blind will end racism because if you don’t see color, then we’re all the same. WRONG! You can’t be color-blind and saying you can ignore color is just another way of saying that you can ignore me. I don’t want you to ignore my Black skin, I want you to embrace it, respect it, and treat me like the person I am. Elliot wasn’t taught this though and she’s spent a lifetime trying to fit into a world that sees her one way, when she was raised another. I wanted to shake her sometimes, but I finally began to understand that Elliot’s faults were not her own. They were a product of her upbringing. I don’t know what it’s like to be raised around people who don’t share my skin tone or be told to deny half of what I am. Quinton doesn’t have this experience either and so part of what we see in the book is Quinton calling Elliot out on this and Elliot realizing that maybe she has some things to work on within herself and in her past that she’s been trying to push to the side for so long. In case you’re worried: yes Elliot does finally learn, but her journey getting there was both amazing and frustrating to watch (I loved it lol).
Alexa Martin writes an Author’s Note at the beginning of Snapped discussing why she wanted to tell this story and I implore anyone who picks up this book to read it. Alexa discusses how she was raised in a household similar to Elliot and how it wasn’t until she was an adult with a Black husband and black children that she finally began to understand just how much her upbringing and experiences affected her. She discusses how she minimized herself, excused or ignored microaggressions around her, and mentions how growing up in an all White family and confronting racism may mean for the ones she loved. This is important. Without this context, I don’t know if you can fully appreciate the struggle that Elliot and other women like her (Alexa included) have gone through when faced with situations like this one. It’s what prompted me to believe that Elliot would grow throughout the story because I knew that growth was personal to the author herself.
The one thing I will say is, I was a little frustrated by the ending, though I promise it was not because of Elliot or Quinton’s actions, but rather by the actions of his teammates and the fans.One you read it, I think you’ll understand why. Quinton was such a big spirit and so driven to do what was right, but it seemed as if people weren’t ready to support him openly until a “big” gesture was made. Either way, we were given the happy ending we deserve and I’m happy to say, Alexa Martin’s amazingness struck again!
Anyone who’s been here for awhile knows that I am a very big fan of Alexa Martin’s Playbook series. I love the Mustangs and the women who love them. When I found out we were getting another book in this series, I was over the moon. Fumbled is still my absolute favorite, but I couldn’t wait to see what Alexa had in store next and thankfully, she didn’t disappoint.
Snapped throws us right into the deep end of the pool from page one. Quinton Howard Jr. is the new quarterback from the Mustangs with an amazing contract and amazing skills. Everyone expects him to get the Mustangs to the playoffs, but no one expects him to take a knee and cover his league logo the first time he takes the field. Showing support for the Black Lives Matter movement and calling attention to the racist and bigoted industry that is football? Who would do a thing like that? That’s what Elliot Reed wants to know. While she completely understands the injustices that are going on in the world, the last thing she wants to see is Quinton protesting it on the field. While she supports the cause, as the newest PR employee on the Mustangs roster, she was hoping not to have to face anything too large right off the bat. Sure she understands why Quinton is protesting, but he’s jeopardizing her job in the process. Why couldn’t he just tell the league he wanted to protest? She could have helped him do it in a way that didn’t piss off the Mustangs’ owner and could’ve helped spread his message without it possibly ruining her career. When the owner of the Mustangs give Elliott the task of putting an end to Quinton’s protest, Elliot is forced to face some things she’d rather keep hidden…and maybe find both love and herself in the process.
I’ll admit I was worried. With such a big social justice message, I wasn’t entirely sure how things would play out or how they would be handled in the book. I must say, Alexa did a great job. It wasn’t hard to fall in love with Quinton. He was passionate about shedding light not only on racial injustice, but the injustices within professional football as well, no matter the cost. Whenever he talked about why this was important to him or why he needed to do this, I fell in love a little more because he was speaking nothing but facts. Quinton gives us tons of insight throughout the entire book and I must say he almost rivaled the love I have for TK from Fumbled.
While falling in love with Quinton wasn’t hard, loving Elliot was a little bit more difficult. She’s a strong woman, which I loved, but being inside her head tended to be frustrating for awhile. Here’s why: Elliot is a mixed race woman. Born to a Black mom who died early on and raised by her White father, Elliot was raised to be “color-blind”, which is a direct quote. As a Black woman, I know how ridiculous this is, but it’s not surprising. So many White people believe that being color-blind will end racism because if you don’t see color, then we’re all the same. WRONG! You can’t be color-blind and saying you can ignore color is just another way of saying that you can ignore me. I don’t want you to ignore my Black skin, I want you to embrace it, respect it, and treat me like the person I am. Elliot wasn’t taught this though and she’s spent a lifetime trying to fit into a world that sees her one way, when she was raised another. I wanted to shake her sometimes, but I finally began to understand that Elliot’s faults were not her own. They were a product of her upbringing. I don’t know what it’s like to be raised around people who don’t share my skin tone or be told to deny half of what I am. Quinton doesn’t have this experience either and so part of what we see in the book is Quinton calling Elliot out on this and Elliot realizing that maybe she has some things to work on within herself and in her past that she’s been trying to push to the side for so long. In case you’re worried: yes Elliot does finally learn, but her journey getting there was both amazing and frustrating to watch (I loved it lol).
Alexa Martin writes an Author’s Note at the beginning of Snapped discussing why she wanted to tell this story and I implore anyone who picks up this book to read it. Alexa discusses how she was raised in a household similar to Elliot and how it wasn’t until she was an adult with a Black husband and black children that she finally began to understand just how much her upbringing and experiences affected her. She discusses how she minimized herself, excused or ignored microaggressions around her, and mentions how growing up in an all White family and confronting racism may mean for the ones she loved. This is important. Without this context, I don’t know if you can fully appreciate the struggle that Elliot and other women like her (Alexa included) have gone through when faced with situations like this one. It’s what prompted me to believe that Elliot would grow throughout the story because I knew that growth was personal to the author herself.
The one thing I will say is, I was a little frustrated by the ending, though I promise it was not because of Elliot or Quinton’s actions, but rather by the actions of his teammates and the fans.One you read it, I think you’ll understand why. Quinton was such a big spirit and so driven to do what was right, but it seemed as if people weren’t ready to support him openly until a “big” gesture was made. Either way, we were given the happy ending we deserve and I’m happy to say, Alexa Martin’s amazingness struck again!
October 24, 2020
I don't think that this book gives justice to the issues these characters are dealing with.
Around 95% of the book when everything gets resolved I was very disappointed.
Also, the romance is lacking, I don't "feel" these two are in love at all.
Around 95% of the book when everything gets resolved I was very disappointed.
Also, the romance is lacking, I don't "feel" these two are in love at all.
January 26, 2023
I hope you all believe in the saying better late than never.
While I did receive this advance reading copy before the book was published, I took on a lot of duties; going back to college and more responsibility at work, all while being in a pandy. A lot of these arcs fell to the wayside. (Sorry to all the reps and publishers :(, really.)
However, I will slowly work through these, and even if they are late, here are my opinions.
I liked this book, so I would give it 3.25 stars.
The premise - our female lead (Elliot) has just landed a Public Relations job with the famed Denver Mustangs. Right, when she gets to go to her first home game as a Mustang employee, the male lead (Quinton) takes a knee in his protest against systemic racism and NFL's unfair policies.
While our female lead is black, she's biracial, so she is white too. She feels stuck between two places, with respect and admiration for what he is trying to bring attention to, and a disconnect with how he portrays the world. They end up stuck working together to find a solution to the media coverage all this is bringing. Of course, they develop a partnership turn friendship turn relationship (I mean, duh, this is a romance.)
Now what I thought was an interesting take on this particular time in America (the NFL protests and the initial emergence of BLM Movement) was Alexa Martin's choice to write a female lead that had this particular identity issue; that issue of being bi-racial and not having a feeling of belonging. I don't want to give the whole thing away but since her background is given up pretty early in the book, I don't feel like I am necessarily spoiling anything. You see, Elliot was raised by her white father. He was a great dad, but he could only teach her and guide her so much. This caused her harm later in her life, and with her relationship and towards the end of the book, she starts to really see this, which is partly because of Quinton (bless him for this.) While I could not relate to this struggle personally, I am sure that someone else out there can and will. So for that I appreciate this being a part of the storyline.
The sad thing is while I couldn't finish this book fast enough, I did not really feel the chemistry between Quinton and Elliot. I loved the sweet moments we got of them together during the holiday chapters; the rest of the romance felt a bit flat. I also had a hard time connecting with her due to not being able to relate.
What I liked a lot about the story is that it is a softer approach for those who are not ready to read the more heavy-hitting non-fiction anti-racism books. This had an outstanding balance of the chick lit and the social injustices to dip your toes into first. Kudos to you Alexa Martin!
With all that being said, this may have worked better with someone who could connect with Elliot better, as the story is told entirely from her point of view. We only connect with Quinton through her interactions, so that was also a downer for me as I was really excited from reading the prologue from his POV and thought I might get at least a few things from his perspective. My favorite couple out of this series will still have to be TK and Poppy from Fumbled, but if any of this resonating with you, you should give this book a shot especially with the SuperBowl around the corner!
Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for an eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.<3
While I did receive this advance reading copy before the book was published, I took on a lot of duties; going back to college and more responsibility at work, all while being in a pandy. A lot of these arcs fell to the wayside. (Sorry to all the reps and publishers :(, really.)
However, I will slowly work through these, and even if they are late, here are my opinions.
I liked this book, so I would give it 3.25 stars.
The premise - our female lead (Elliot) has just landed a Public Relations job with the famed Denver Mustangs. Right, when she gets to go to her first home game as a Mustang employee, the male lead (Quinton) takes a knee in his protest against systemic racism and NFL's unfair policies.
While our female lead is black, she's biracial, so she is white too. She feels stuck between two places, with respect and admiration for what he is trying to bring attention to, and a disconnect with how he portrays the world. They end up stuck working together to find a solution to the media coverage all this is bringing. Of course, they develop a partnership turn friendship turn relationship (I mean, duh, this is a romance.)
Now what I thought was an interesting take on this particular time in America (the NFL protests and the initial emergence of BLM Movement) was Alexa Martin's choice to write a female lead that had this particular identity issue; that issue of being bi-racial and not having a feeling of belonging. I don't want to give the whole thing away but since her background is given up pretty early in the book, I don't feel like I am necessarily spoiling anything. You see, Elliot was raised by her white father. He was a great dad, but he could only teach her and guide her so much. This caused her harm later in her life, and with her relationship and towards the end of the book, she starts to really see this, which is partly because of Quinton (bless him for this.) While I could not relate to this struggle personally, I am sure that someone else out there can and will. So for that I appreciate this being a part of the storyline.
The sad thing is while I couldn't finish this book fast enough, I did not really feel the chemistry between Quinton and Elliot. I loved the sweet moments we got of them together during the holiday chapters; the rest of the romance felt a bit flat. I also had a hard time connecting with her due to not being able to relate.
What I liked a lot about the story is that it is a softer approach for those who are not ready to read the more heavy-hitting non-fiction anti-racism books. This had an outstanding balance of the chick lit and the social injustices to dip your toes into first. Kudos to you Alexa Martin!
With all that being said, this may have worked better with someone who could connect with Elliot better, as the story is told entirely from her point of view. We only connect with Quinton through her interactions, so that was also a downer for me as I was really excited from reading the prologue from his POV and thought I might get at least a few things from his perspective. My favorite couple out of this series will still have to be TK and Poppy from Fumbled, but if any of this resonating with you, you should give this book a shot especially with the SuperBowl around the corner!
Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for an eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.<3
July 14, 2020
I LOOVEED IT!!!!!
I was overjoyed to pick up Alexa Martin’s 4th book in the Playbook Series, Snapped (#SHOOTYOURSHOT) and I started it on Sunday.....YOU GUYS! PREORDER PREORDER PREORDER!!! It’s due to be released on October 20,2020 and covers topics of racism, racial disparities, especially within the NFL, taking a knee and what it really means, tokenism, micro-aggression and just enough steam to entice you......Listen, you name it, it’s in this book!
If you know me, you know I love this series and I am completely heartbroken that there isn’t another book in the lineup yet BUT like I told Alexa last night, I am speaking it into existence for her (and me 😉)!!!! Snapped is by far the more heavier of content/topics of the 4 books so far, so if she decides to end the playbook series with Snapped, then she is going out with a bang!
PREORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!
I was overjoyed to pick up Alexa Martin’s 4th book in the Playbook Series, Snapped (#SHOOTYOURSHOT) and I started it on Sunday.....YOU GUYS! PREORDER PREORDER PREORDER!!! It’s due to be released on October 20,2020 and covers topics of racism, racial disparities, especially within the NFL, taking a knee and what it really means, tokenism, micro-aggression and just enough steam to entice you......Listen, you name it, it’s in this book!
If you know me, you know I love this series and I am completely heartbroken that there isn’t another book in the lineup yet BUT like I told Alexa last night, I am speaking it into existence for her (and me 😉)!!!! Snapped is by far the more heavier of content/topics of the 4 books so far, so if she decides to end the playbook series with Snapped, then she is going out with a bang!
PREORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!
July 26, 2020
(free review copy) Wow, this one has a VERY strong message! I love that mixed with steamy romance. I do hope the series continues because there’s one side story here that I NEED resolution on 🙏🏼 I love that this is an #ownvoices story and that the author is writing from such a deep personal history as the wife of an NFL player.
April 14, 2021
*I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦
❧ I feel very...indifferent? It's such a weird feeling to describe, but I feel like the ingredients for a good foundation are there, it's just that the cement to water ratio was off (if that even makes any sense, lol). Bottom line, I don't love or hate this book.
❧ I really wished that we had Quinton's POV. I would've loved to have been inside his head and seen the situation from his perspective.
❧ I do like how Martin handled the discussions of CTE and racism and inequality in football and I know Elliot might catch shit for her naïve ways, but this is the first time I've seen the "colorblind" discussion being tackled with a biracial character and while not everyone is gonna see eye-to-eye with Elliot's POV, I appreciate the author for bringing this discussion on the table.
𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦
❧ I feel very...indifferent? It's such a weird feeling to describe, but I feel like the ingredients for a good foundation are there, it's just that the cement to water ratio was off (if that even makes any sense, lol). Bottom line, I don't love or hate this book.
❧ I really wished that we had Quinton's POV. I would've loved to have been inside his head and seen the situation from his perspective.
❧ I do like how Martin handled the discussions of CTE and racism and inequality in football and I know Elliot might catch shit for her naïve ways, but this is the first time I've seen the "colorblind" discussion being tackled with a biracial character and while not everyone is gonna see eye-to-eye with Elliot's POV, I appreciate the author for bringing this discussion on the table.
July 23, 2020
This book is timely, thought provoking, and yes, romantic. Quinton is strong yet vulnerable. Fierce, protective, and beyond swoon-worthy. Elle is confident, but confused. Loyal to a fault, but also broken. Together, along with some great friends, they find the love they both deserve.
The issues dealt with in this book are not things I have personally experienced, or will ever have to because of my skin color and privilege. But, I will be forever thankful to Alexa Martin for allowing my daughters and other biracial women the chance to see themselves represented on these pages.
The issues dealt with in this book are not things I have personally experienced, or will ever have to because of my skin color and privilege. But, I will be forever thankful to Alexa Martin for allowing my daughters and other biracial women the chance to see themselves represented on these pages.
October 27, 2020
I received an ARC copy of this from Berkely via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Summary
Elliot Reed is trying to live her best life. She has the job of her dreams and owes it to her father's memory to be happy. But when the new quarterback becomes the first Mustang's player to kneel during the anthem, her job becomes much more difficult.
Now she has to has to work with Quinton to smooth things back out. But their initial meeting is rocky and tensions are high. Quinton refuses to let this opportunity to make real change pass him by while Elliot doesn't want to ruffle any feathers.
Overview
➸ POV: 1st Person, Elle's POV
➸ Elliot Reed: 31, Biracial Black woman, Strategic Communications Manager for the Denver Mustangs, Recently lost her father to cancer, Struggling with grief and coping
➸ Quinton Howard Jr: 7th season NFL Quarterback and new Quarterback for the Denver Mustangs, Father was a NFL lineman, Private
➸ Content Warnings: Cancer, Grief, Death of a Parent, Racism, Microaggressions, CTE/Brain Injuries, Anxiety
My Thoughts
This book is very different from the rest of the series so it won't be everyone's cup of tea. However this book held so many important discussions all while maintaining a really adorable romance. And I personally adored it.
Let's start with the characters -
Elle is one of those characters that will be difficult for a lot of readers to love. She's difficult, and stubborn, and an all around hot mess. But I personally connected with her immediately. Elle is very driven and is doing the best she can to cope. Her priorities are often poorly directed and she's quick to judge and react. Her coping mechanisms are without a doubt flawed, but I think everyone can relate to brushing things off, burying their feelings, or laughing off offenses. Elle's character isn't "unrealistic" she's just not your typical "strong" female character. She's flawed and struggling and often times leaves the reader feeling uncomfortable.
Quinton is similar - although readers seem much quicker to forgive his transgressions. He's quick to judge (admit it, he was a bit of a jerk those first few pages) and puts up walls to protect himself. But behind those defenses, he's kind and caring and desperately wants be heard.
I think one of my favorite things about this story was the discussions on coping. This story really explores all the facets of coping. From anger to sadness to ignoring the problem entirely. Both Elle and Quinton are struggling with both familial and work place pressures. And Elle has many internalized and deeply unhealthy coping mechanisms that often lead her to self-sabotage.
And like in every other Alexa Martin book - the chemistry was great, the side characters are everything, and discussions of football's impact on players lives is fantastically handled.
I will say the ending wasn't my absolute favorite. I thought the grand gesture was a little much and worked out a little too cleanly and perfectly. And I also wish we had gotten chapters from Quinton's POV! This is just a personal preference though - I love dual POV romances!
NOTE: Read the authors note. This book is very personal to the author's own experiences and I've seen a lot of reviews about the validity of story. Remember - just because a book doesn't represent your own experiences doesn't mean it's "unrealistic".
Overall, I adore this series and adored this addition to it. I really, really hope we get Vonnie's story!! She's probably my favorite side character ever and she deserves her own HEA!
Summary
Elliot Reed is trying to live her best life. She has the job of her dreams and owes it to her father's memory to be happy. But when the new quarterback becomes the first Mustang's player to kneel during the anthem, her job becomes much more difficult.
Now she has to has to work with Quinton to smooth things back out. But their initial meeting is rocky and tensions are high. Quinton refuses to let this opportunity to make real change pass him by while Elliot doesn't want to ruffle any feathers.
Overview
➸ POV: 1st Person, Elle's POV
➸ Elliot Reed: 31, Biracial Black woman, Strategic Communications Manager for the Denver Mustangs, Recently lost her father to cancer, Struggling with grief and coping
➸ Quinton Howard Jr: 7th season NFL Quarterback and new Quarterback for the Denver Mustangs, Father was a NFL lineman, Private
➸ Content Warnings: Cancer, Grief, Death of a Parent, Racism, Microaggressions, CTE/Brain Injuries, Anxiety
My Thoughts
This book is very different from the rest of the series so it won't be everyone's cup of tea. However this book held so many important discussions all while maintaining a really adorable romance. And I personally adored it.
Let's start with the characters -
Elle is one of those characters that will be difficult for a lot of readers to love. She's difficult, and stubborn, and an all around hot mess. But I personally connected with her immediately. Elle is very driven and is doing the best she can to cope. Her priorities are often poorly directed and she's quick to judge and react. Her coping mechanisms are without a doubt flawed, but I think everyone can relate to brushing things off, burying their feelings, or laughing off offenses. Elle's character isn't "unrealistic" she's just not your typical "strong" female character. She's flawed and struggling and often times leaves the reader feeling uncomfortable.
Quinton is similar - although readers seem much quicker to forgive his transgressions. He's quick to judge (admit it, he was a bit of a jerk those first few pages) and puts up walls to protect himself. But behind those defenses, he's kind and caring and desperately wants be heard.
I think one of my favorite things about this story was the discussions on coping. This story really explores all the facets of coping. From anger to sadness to ignoring the problem entirely. Both Elle and Quinton are struggling with both familial and work place pressures. And Elle has many internalized and deeply unhealthy coping mechanisms that often lead her to self-sabotage.
And like in every other Alexa Martin book - the chemistry was great, the side characters are everything, and discussions of football's impact on players lives is fantastically handled.
I will say the ending wasn't my absolute favorite. I thought the grand gesture was a little much and worked out a little too cleanly and perfectly. And I also wish we had gotten chapters from Quinton's POV! This is just a personal preference though - I love dual POV romances!
NOTE: Read the authors note. This book is very personal to the author's own experiences and I've seen a lot of reviews about the validity of story. Remember - just because a book doesn't represent your own experiences doesn't mean it's "unrealistic".
Overall, I adore this series and adored this addition to it. I really, really hope we get Vonnie's story!! She's probably my favorite side character ever and she deserves her own HEA!
December 21, 2020
There are several different things going on here, and some definitely work better than others. First and foremost, Snapped is an unusually candid and insightful portrait of a biracial woman coming to terms with the internalized anti-black attitudes she swallowed while growing up in a white family and predominantly white community. And the toxic folly of the color blind philosophy she was steeped in for so long. Author Alexa Martin knows this territory from the inside out— this aspect of the story is very personal for her— and she writes Elliot incredibly specifically and well.
As a result of Martin’s insight, Elle is infuriating at times but she’s also very real. Some Black people raised the way she was go out of their way to deny racism as a form of self protection and protection for the families that raised them. That’s a serious phenomenon and I haven’t seen that laid out so clearly in romance before in a story that acknowledges how messed up that is. It’s humane but honest.
That said, there were some things I didn’t get about Elliot—parts of the portrayal that undermined the strengths Elliot was supposed to have. She’s supposed to be good with people but doesn’t think that Quinton might have a really good reason for keeping his father out of his movement and his foundation? People have complicated relationships with their family for many very good reasons and yet she assumes he’s just ungrateful or petulant. That’s a silly way to generate more conflict.
Even worse, Elliot has watched and studied football all her life and prides herself in being at least sensible to really blatant racism even if she doesn’t see racism as ubiquitous, but doesn’t understand that the league has discriminated against black quarterbacks, and isn't familiar with all the racist stereotypes about Black athletes and how they influence who gets to play what position in the league. This might just be an awkward and unintended consequence of using Elliot as a proxy when the author wants to educate readers about a point, but it's a pretty big part of NFL history. Elliott's ignorance strains both credulity and threatens her credibility, tipping her turning a blind eye to race to the absurd.
Apart from these points, the other ways that Elliot has swallowed micro and macro racial aggression in order to get along generally tracked. Snapped is also a romance and that works too even if the burn is very slow. Elliot’s love interest Quinton is a fictionalized Colin Kaepernick type character with a secret, very personal motivation for his activism. He’s fighting for better and more equitable treatment of Black athletes and veteran, retired football players struggling with the devastating health effects of the brutal sport they play. They’re thrown together when Elliot is tasked by the team owner with channeling his protest into more socially acceptable forms that reflect well on the team. I liked Quinton as a romantic hero, but the portrayal of the movement politics he’s engaged in is by far the weakest link, especially at the climax which goes off the rails and is far too simplistic and ahistorical about how change is made. Overall Snapped tells a difficult and meaningful story about a woman coming to terms with her family and identity imperfectly but well. For me it was well worth the time and consideration.
As a result of Martin’s insight, Elle is infuriating at times but she’s also very real. Some Black people raised the way she was go out of their way to deny racism as a form of self protection and protection for the families that raised them. That’s a serious phenomenon and I haven’t seen that laid out so clearly in romance before in a story that acknowledges how messed up that is. It’s humane but honest.
That said, there were some things I didn’t get about Elliot—parts of the portrayal that undermined the strengths Elliot was supposed to have. She’s supposed to be good with people but doesn’t think that Quinton might have a really good reason for keeping his father out of his movement and his foundation? People have complicated relationships with their family for many very good reasons and yet she assumes he’s just ungrateful or petulant. That’s a silly way to generate more conflict.
Even worse, Elliot has watched and studied football all her life and prides herself in being at least sensible to really blatant racism even if she doesn’t see racism as ubiquitous, but doesn’t understand that the league has discriminated against black quarterbacks, and isn't familiar with all the racist stereotypes about Black athletes and how they influence who gets to play what position in the league. This might just be an awkward and unintended consequence of using Elliot as a proxy when the author wants to educate readers about a point, but it's a pretty big part of NFL history. Elliott's ignorance strains both credulity and threatens her credibility, tipping her turning a blind eye to race to the absurd.
Apart from these points, the other ways that Elliot has swallowed micro and macro racial aggression in order to get along generally tracked. Snapped is also a romance and that works too even if the burn is very slow. Elliot’s love interest Quinton is a fictionalized Colin Kaepernick type character with a secret, very personal motivation for his activism. He’s fighting for better and more equitable treatment of Black athletes and veteran, retired football players struggling with the devastating health effects of the brutal sport they play. They’re thrown together when Elliot is tasked by the team owner with channeling his protest into more socially acceptable forms that reflect well on the team. I liked Quinton as a romantic hero, but the portrayal of the movement politics he’s engaged in is by far the weakest link, especially at the climax which goes off the rails and is far too simplistic and ahistorical about how change is made. Overall Snapped tells a difficult and meaningful story about a woman coming to terms with her family and identity imperfectly but well. For me it was well worth the time and consideration.
February 22, 2021
Best for Last!
My love for Fumbled, book 2 in the Playbook series, is well documented but Snapped just went ahead a stole my heart!
Elliot is trying to find her place at her new dream job, part of the PR staff for the Denver Mustangs, which is really just an extension of how’s she’s felt most of her life. Quinton is tired of keeping his head down when he knows he needs to fight for those who are being ignored.
I love a good meet cute gone soooo wrong and Elliot and Quinton’s is perfection, surpassed only by their very delicious slow burn as they get to know each other and fall for each other! I mean Halloween and the Diet Cokes?! *sigh*
But at its heart Snapped is about deciding what you’re willing to fight for: your friends and family, your marriage, what is right vs what is easy, identify, and love. Alexa Martin’s authors note is a must read as she sets the stage for the reader by sharing her inspiration, goal, and personal connection to the story.
And while I’m DYING for Vonnie’s story (and okay let’s face it I want more glimpses at Poppy and TK and their adorable kids) this is a fabulous ending to an excellent series....although maybe it can just be the the end for now and we get Vonnie’s story later 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
My love for Fumbled, book 2 in the Playbook series, is well documented but Snapped just went ahead a stole my heart!
Elliot is trying to find her place at her new dream job, part of the PR staff for the Denver Mustangs, which is really just an extension of how’s she’s felt most of her life. Quinton is tired of keeping his head down when he knows he needs to fight for those who are being ignored.
I love a good meet cute gone soooo wrong and Elliot and Quinton’s is perfection, surpassed only by their very delicious slow burn as they get to know each other and fall for each other! I mean Halloween and the Diet Cokes?! *sigh*
But at its heart Snapped is about deciding what you’re willing to fight for: your friends and family, your marriage, what is right vs what is easy, identify, and love. Alexa Martin’s authors note is a must read as she sets the stage for the reader by sharing her inspiration, goal, and personal connection to the story.
And while I’m DYING for Vonnie’s story (and okay let’s face it I want more glimpses at Poppy and TK and their adorable kids) this is a fabulous ending to an excellent series....although maybe it can just be the the end for now and we get Vonnie’s story later 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
January 12, 2021
4.25 Stars / 2 Steam Fans
Snapped is the fourth book in the Playbook series, and I will say that Alexa Martin placed so much of herself into this story. I appreciated the author's note at the beginning of this book because I was very hesitant to read this book. The storyline does deal with a football player kneeling and using his professional status to voice personal beliefs. I appreciated that Alexa Martin addressed the similarities to recent events of a similar nature, and I enjoyed that this story is NOT that story.
Quinten and Elliot must work together to handle the media fallout of Quinten taking a knee during the National Anthem. There is a slow burn romance that ends up happening between Quinten and Elliot as they both break down walls around their hearts.
Video review available in Week 1: Jan 3 – Jan 9, 2021, full weekly book reviews available on Steph's Romance Book Talk Patreon.
For other bookish content, check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.
Snapped is the fourth book in the Playbook series, and I will say that Alexa Martin placed so much of herself into this story. I appreciated the author's note at the beginning of this book because I was very hesitant to read this book. The storyline does deal with a football player kneeling and using his professional status to voice personal beliefs. I appreciated that Alexa Martin addressed the similarities to recent events of a similar nature, and I enjoyed that this story is NOT that story.
Quinten and Elliot must work together to handle the media fallout of Quinten taking a knee during the National Anthem. There is a slow burn romance that ends up happening between Quinten and Elliot as they both break down walls around their hearts.
Video review available in Week 1: Jan 3 – Jan 9, 2021, full weekly book reviews available on Steph's Romance Book Talk Patreon.
For other bookish content, check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.
January 1, 2021
After reading the first 3 books in this series earlier this year, I just HAD to read this one to keep up with the characters around the Denver Mustangs football team. This book was much for serious than the other 3 as it covered more heavy topics such as police brutality, Black Lives Matter movement, and death of a parent, but the characters were still light hearted and cute and overall it was an adorable book! This book was not my favorite of the series, but it was still good. Personally I liked the story/plot of the second book the best, but that doesn't mean this book was a fail.
October 17, 2020
Omg, I loved this book! I don't even know where to start, so forgive me if this is one long, rambling post. Snapped tells the story of Quinton Howard Jr., star quarterback of the Denver Mustangs. Elliott Reed is the Strategic Communications Manager for the team. She usually does damage control PR for the players. After Quinton takes a knee during the national anthem, Elliot is "assigned to him," with the job of getting Quinton to back down. The relationship between Quinton and Elliot showed one of my favorite tropes: enemies to lovers. They definitely get off to a rocky start, but over the course of the book, their professional relationship turns into a romantic one. Elliot is still navigating the loss of her father, and Quinton too is dealing with personal things that no one quite knows about. Elliot was by far one of my favorite characters I have ever had the chance to get to know through a book. Like me, she is biracial, and was raised in a predominantly white world. She talks about never quite fitting in, always feeling on the outside, not being enough, and so much more. There were so many times I found myself nodding and agreeing with everything Martin portrayed. It is so validating to feel represented and see yourself in a book; it really makes you feel less alone and more human. So to Alexa Martin, thank you for creating a character I saw myself in. Quinton and Elliot were funny, entertaining, adorable, romantic, and this book was everything. Thank you @berkleyromance @alexambooks @netgalley for this book. Snapped is out on Tuesday 10.20.20!
November 1, 2020
Well damn Alexa, I see you’ve upped your game with Elliot’s story. Snapped was definitely the most emotionally intense of the series so far, and so many of the topics hit home for me.
More thoughts to come.
More thoughts to come.
December 17, 2020
4 1/2 Stars...
I have read or listened to all of Alexa Martin's books in the Playbook series. I've enjoyed each of them and have found the storylines to be engaging and entertaining. With Snapped, I knew from her author's note at the beginning that this wasn't going to be a "happy go lucky" sports romance....and I was there for it. I know people will have their own opinions regarding this book and that's okay....it's actually what should always happen...everyone can have their own opinion. I'd just like to say I, personally, was impressed at how well Ms. Martin took what's been an often volatile topic within our current society and wrote about it in a way that felt passionate and honest. She tried to blend in how easily others discount a player's motivation and quickly jump to make assumptions. Overall, I think she made every effort to put an honest portrayal out there.
Snapped is a wonderful addition to this series. I enjoyed seeing the interaction between Quinton and Elliot. They definitely have a roller coaster of a relationship. I'm not sure they could have gotten off to a rockier start that when they initially met. It was certainly an inventive "meet cute." Ms. Martin does a nice job at giving us Elliot's history as we go, but makes us wait a while for the full details on Quinton. Even though I enjoy their gradually progressing friendship that eventually evolves into more, I would most likely classify this as women's fiction and not necessarily romance. Even though a romantic relationship blooms and struggles during the course of the story, I believe it is about more. First of all, it is about grief and the many forms it takes. Not just the death of a loved one, but how you move on from it. For Elliot, grief is ruling her life....even more than she realizes or can admit to herself. This book also delves into racism and its many forms. Elliot and Quinton are both dealing with life altering issues in their lives. They have to work hard to find their way to one another and even then, they have trouble. I actually really enjoyed the fact that these two didn't instantly fall into one another's arms and declare their undying love. It felt as if it developed in a more natural and organic way. Both characters (probably Elliot more than Quinton) did frustrate me a few times here and there. However, I believe it was to demonstrate how their characters develop and grow.
Overall, I thought this was a well done women's fiction book and am rating it as such. Please don't go into this looking for a fluffy romance. I love those as much as the next reader, but this is not that story. As a disclaimer, it's quite possible this story spoke to me because I personally lost my mother this year. They say stories often hit you a certain way because of your own personal experiences....so this could be it for me. Overall, I feel it's a heartfelt storyline that relays a strong message.
On a sidenote, I really hope this isn't the final book in the series! Ms. Martin opened a storyline with Vonnie that wasn't obvious before and I see so much potential in exploring where that goes. I truly hope she'll do so and give us at least one more book in this series!!
Lastly, I listened to the audiobook and LOVED the narration. It really did add to my enjoyment of this book.
I have read or listened to all of Alexa Martin's books in the Playbook series. I've enjoyed each of them and have found the storylines to be engaging and entertaining. With Snapped, I knew from her author's note at the beginning that this wasn't going to be a "happy go lucky" sports romance....and I was there for it. I know people will have their own opinions regarding this book and that's okay....it's actually what should always happen...everyone can have their own opinion. I'd just like to say I, personally, was impressed at how well Ms. Martin took what's been an often volatile topic within our current society and wrote about it in a way that felt passionate and honest. She tried to blend in how easily others discount a player's motivation and quickly jump to make assumptions. Overall, I think she made every effort to put an honest portrayal out there.
Snapped is a wonderful addition to this series. I enjoyed seeing the interaction between Quinton and Elliot. They definitely have a roller coaster of a relationship. I'm not sure they could have gotten off to a rockier start that when they initially met. It was certainly an inventive "meet cute." Ms. Martin does a nice job at giving us Elliot's history as we go, but makes us wait a while for the full details on Quinton. Even though I enjoy their gradually progressing friendship that eventually evolves into more, I would most likely classify this as women's fiction and not necessarily romance. Even though a romantic relationship blooms and struggles during the course of the story, I believe it is about more. First of all, it is about grief and the many forms it takes. Not just the death of a loved one, but how you move on from it. For Elliot, grief is ruling her life....even more than she realizes or can admit to herself. This book also delves into racism and its many forms. Elliot and Quinton are both dealing with life altering issues in their lives. They have to work hard to find their way to one another and even then, they have trouble. I actually really enjoyed the fact that these two didn't instantly fall into one another's arms and declare their undying love. It felt as if it developed in a more natural and organic way. Both characters (probably Elliot more than Quinton) did frustrate me a few times here and there. However, I believe it was to demonstrate how their characters develop and grow.
Overall, I thought this was a well done women's fiction book and am rating it as such. Please don't go into this looking for a fluffy romance. I love those as much as the next reader, but this is not that story. As a disclaimer, it's quite possible this story spoke to me because I personally lost my mother this year. They say stories often hit you a certain way because of your own personal experiences....so this could be it for me. Overall, I feel it's a heartfelt storyline that relays a strong message.
On a sidenote, I really hope this isn't the final book in the series! Ms. Martin opened a storyline with Vonnie that wasn't obvious before and I see so much potential in exploring where that goes. I truly hope she'll do so and give us at least one more book in this series!!
Lastly, I listened to the audiobook and LOVED the narration. It really did add to my enjoyment of this book.
November 16, 2020
I really really wanted to like this one more, but I was so frustrated the entire time. I found Elliot's character to be so extremely unlikeable. Look, I get it! I'm also a biracial person who was raised by white people. I also excused or ignored a lot of microaggressions/racism against me in order to fit in when I was young. But the way she is so stuck in her naive worldview and doesn't even consider that the racism other people describe to her is in fact, racism, just baffled me. At one point she says something to the extent of "just because I don't want to label everyone with that awful word 'racist' doesn't mean I'm a bad person." And getting SO OFFENDED because people suggest that she should quit planning an event for a racist politician because "why would she choose a man she's kissed a few times over the career she's worked so hard for?" Girl, don't quit for a man, quit because of your own moral code! She says that she saw the way her Black boyfriends were treated differently than white people when they got pulled over by police, but didn't think of it as a race thing. How???
I know people like this exist in real life, but as someone who had a very similar upbringing, literally down to losing a father from cancer, I still couldn't understand how she could have such blinders on to everything going on around her. I'm sure I'm biased because I had my major racism awakening when I was like, 19 at the oldest, and therefore can't imagine being 30+ and still excusing this shit, but I found it so tedious. Maybe if it had alternated between Elliot and Quinton's POV, I would have enjoyed this more, because I definitely needed a break from being in her head.
The pacing of this book seemed really off (I think I felt this way about the other books in this series too.) It didn't really read like a romance (I don't think they even kissed until 2/3 through the book) and was more about Elliot's personal development, which is fine if you want to read that, but I just didn't. I also found the ending to be just way too easy...Quinton has been the only player on his team kneeling for the whole season, and all it takes is a chat with Elliot to make everyone join him. I get that he's new to the team but NOBODY listened to him when he talked about why it was important? But they listen to Elliot, who learned about racism like, yesterday? And then the whole stadium is just suddenly cheering when it's not just Quinton kneeling. I understand power in numbers, but I've also seen several shows of "unity"--kneeling together, linking arms, etc--that have been met with overwhelming boos from the crowd. And the fact that Quinton was gonna stop kneeling to save Elliot's shitty job...ugh. a) It seemed pretty clear that he was planning that when they broke up and he told her he'd make sure she got to keep her job, so I don't know why Elliot was so surprised to learn it later, and b) he's really ready to give up his entire protest for a woman whose behavior (and entire worldview, really) is so deeply hurtful?
The best parts of this book were Donny and Vonnie.
I know people like this exist in real life, but as someone who had a very similar upbringing, literally down to losing a father from cancer, I still couldn't understand how she could have such blinders on to everything going on around her. I'm sure I'm biased because I had my major racism awakening when I was like, 19 at the oldest, and therefore can't imagine being 30+ and still excusing this shit, but I found it so tedious. Maybe if it had alternated between Elliot and Quinton's POV, I would have enjoyed this more, because I definitely needed a break from being in her head.
The pacing of this book seemed really off (I think I felt this way about the other books in this series too.) It didn't really read like a romance (I don't think they even kissed until 2/3 through the book) and was more about Elliot's personal development, which is fine if you want to read that, but I just didn't. I also found the ending to be just way too easy...Quinton has been the only player on his team kneeling for the whole season, and all it takes is a chat with Elliot to make everyone join him. I get that he's new to the team but NOBODY listened to him when he talked about why it was important? But they listen to Elliot, who learned about racism like, yesterday? And then the whole stadium is just suddenly cheering when it's not just Quinton kneeling. I understand power in numbers, but I've also seen several shows of "unity"--kneeling together, linking arms, etc--that have been met with overwhelming boos from the crowd. And the fact that Quinton was gonna stop kneeling to save Elliot's shitty job...ugh. a) It seemed pretty clear that he was planning that when they broke up and he told her he'd make sure she got to keep her job, so I don't know why Elliot was so surprised to learn it later, and b) he's really ready to give up his entire protest for a woman whose behavior (and entire worldview, really) is so deeply hurtful?
The best parts of this book were Donny and Vonnie.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2020
This is the fourth book in Alexa Martin's series and it definitely lives up to the expectations! This may be my favorite one yet. This book covers some very real topics that are effecting people today. Alexa Martin creates a wonderful world of characters and beautifully covers topics like racism and injustice within the league and in the outside world. This book felt very important to be reading during an election year were a lot is at stake,
Elliot was a great character. She was strong willed and dedicated. I loved that we got to see Elliot going through big moments in life while also still grieving for her late father. We were able to get insight on why she did certain things and how she was feeling in her every day life. I liked that Elliot had to have some really hard conversations about her own biases with her friends, herself, and Quinton. I also really liked how we got to see a lot of the friendship between the lady mustangs. It was nice to see that she had s very strong support system behind her.
Quinton may be my new favorite male character from this series. He is so passionate about the causes he believes in and wanted to make real change in the world. He had a lot on his shoulders for being the first player in the league to protest during the national anthem and I felt that Alexa Martin wrote his character beautifully. You get to see insight into his motivations behind his protests and learn why he is doing what he's doing regardless of the backlash from media, fans, and the league.
I do wish that this was written in a dual POV. I would've liked to see Quinton's thoughts and feelings as the book progressed and I think it would've helped explain a lot of his motivations better.
Overall, I loved this book. I think it captured the feelings of a lot of people today. It covered very relevant topics while also adding in romance. Quinton and Elliot were a great couple to watch grow individually to help them grow together.
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Elliot was a great character. She was strong willed and dedicated. I loved that we got to see Elliot going through big moments in life while also still grieving for her late father. We were able to get insight on why she did certain things and how she was feeling in her every day life. I liked that Elliot had to have some really hard conversations about her own biases with her friends, herself, and Quinton. I also really liked how we got to see a lot of the friendship between the lady mustangs. It was nice to see that she had s very strong support system behind her.
Quinton may be my new favorite male character from this series. He is so passionate about the causes he believes in and wanted to make real change in the world. He had a lot on his shoulders for being the first player in the league to protest during the national anthem and I felt that Alexa Martin wrote his character beautifully. You get to see insight into his motivations behind his protests and learn why he is doing what he's doing regardless of the backlash from media, fans, and the league.
I do wish that this was written in a dual POV. I would've liked to see Quinton's thoughts and feelings as the book progressed and I think it would've helped explain a lot of his motivations better.
Overall, I loved this book. I think it captured the feelings of a lot of people today. It covered very relevant topics while also adding in romance. Quinton and Elliot were a great couple to watch grow individually to help them grow together.
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
October 6, 2020
ARC Review provide by NetGalley in exchange for honest feedback
Elliot has landed her dream job on the PR team for the Denver Mustangs. It’s a little bittersweet due the recent passing of her father, who she shared her love of football. But when the quarterback decides to take a knee during the National Anthem, Elliot is forced to confront issues she’d rather not face as a biracial woman who has spent her whole life trying to find her place.
She’s assigned to Quinton to discover what can be done to save face and spin the narrative. Quinton won’t be budged, but Elliot works with him to amplify his message by starting a foundation that bring attention to the lack of care and attention retired football players receive from the league. Elliot doesn’t like that Quinton forces her to confront long-standing issues that she has pushed to the side, content to pretend everything was fine and she wasn’t affected by racism.
At first they butt heads, but Quinton, being the sweet and thoughtful man that he is, works his way into Elliot’s life and heart. There’s a super sweet Halloween scene that makes me melt just thinking about it!
A few minor nit-picks: I wish there was less focus on Elliot meshing with the WAGs group and more on her own self-actualization and growth. It feels too quick the way that Elliot finally clued into the owner's racism. Quinton has told her many times and she's ignored what's right in front of her face UNTIL she loses Quinton. Then the blinders suddenly fall. I wish it didn't happen all at once and now she's suddenly seen the light.
Elliot has landed her dream job on the PR team for the Denver Mustangs. It’s a little bittersweet due the recent passing of her father, who she shared her love of football. But when the quarterback decides to take a knee during the National Anthem, Elliot is forced to confront issues she’d rather not face as a biracial woman who has spent her whole life trying to find her place.
She’s assigned to Quinton to discover what can be done to save face and spin the narrative. Quinton won’t be budged, but Elliot works with him to amplify his message by starting a foundation that bring attention to the lack of care and attention retired football players receive from the league. Elliot doesn’t like that Quinton forces her to confront long-standing issues that she has pushed to the side, content to pretend everything was fine and she wasn’t affected by racism.
At first they butt heads, but Quinton, being the sweet and thoughtful man that he is, works his way into Elliot’s life and heart. There’s a super sweet Halloween scene that makes me melt just thinking about it!
A few minor nit-picks: I wish there was less focus on Elliot meshing with the WAGs group and more on her own self-actualization and growth. It feels too quick the way that Elliot finally clued into the owner's racism. Quinton has told her many times and she's ignored what's right in front of her face UNTIL she loses Quinton. Then the blinders suddenly fall. I wish it didn't happen all at once and now she's suddenly seen the light.
August 30, 2020
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Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My review of Snapped will be up on October 13, 2020, a week before release date (October 20, 2020) on my blog. I will update you guys with a direct link once it’s up! For now, here is a preview of what my review will look like:
❀❀❀❀
The slowburn romance between Elliot and Quinton brings in readers unexpectedly as we dive into Snapped and watch them discover their chemistry for each other.
Snapped tells the story of Quinton Howard Jr. takes a knee during the national anthem during his game as the star quarterback for the Denver Mustangs. Because of that, Strategic Communications Manager of…
March 21, 2021
Better than books 2 and 3. It discusses real topics about race and identity and feeling other. I thought that part was superbly done. Unfortunately there was zero chemistry. Bit of a flop that way but the rest was really interesting.
January 1, 2023
The final read of 2022 was a win! One of my favorites from the series!
October 26, 2020
This one definitely tackled some big issues (more so than her other three) and I really appreciated her author's note at the beginning. Elliot Reed has received her dream job - she working her late father's favorite pro-football team, the Mustangs. She thought it was going to be a cakewalk but when the hunky quarterback blacks out the NFL logo on his jersey AND kneels during the anthem for a game she knows that she has her work cut out for her. Soon she's having to work directly with Quinton to "restore" his image and run damage control. People all over the country are sending hate mail, spewing vitriol, and slandering him every chance they can. What Elliot doesn't expect is that sparks will fly with Quinton. He's filling a hole she didn't know she had in her life. Touching, deep, funny, and extremely relevant. I could have done without some of the side characters (Elliot's friends) - but I have a sneaking suspicion they are due for their own books soon - if Vonnie doesn't get one next! Love this series.
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